Libby Bowman - Softball Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Libby Bowman

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
morri2ec@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-2967
Physical Address:
Memorial 1164 (395 South High St.) / MSC 6925

Libby Bowman, previously Libby Morris, enters her seventh season as an assistant coach at James Madison in 2024. She serves as the programs pitching coach.

During her sixth season with the Dukes in 2023, the pitching staff totaled 246 strikeouts, seven shutout victories, and one perfect game. Under the direction of Bowman, Alissa Humphrey tossed the programs fourth perfect game against Fairleigh Dickinson. Humphrey owns five of JMU's no hitters and added 129 strikeouts during the 2023 season.

In 2022, Bowman helped the Dukes record four shutouts and 219 strikeouts, including 136 from Alissa Humphrey.

In fourth season with the Dukes, she helped the team achieve history as they advanced to their first ever Women’s College World Series finishing with a record of 41-4 overall and 17-1 in conference play. The Dukes won the 2021 CAA title, in record fashion as Bowman coached Odicci Alexander to a tournament record for 16 strikeouts in a single game and a no hitter. Alexander and Alissa Humphrey each had outstanding seasons with the help of Bowman. Humphrey set a single-season program record for no-hitters with four. Humphrey finished the season with a record of 14-0 in the circle and was named CAA Rookie of the Year, VaSID Rookie of the Year and named to the Schutt/Sports Division National Freshman of the Year Top 15 List. Alexander earned NFCA All-American nods with the help of Bowman, as well as Softball America’s NCAA Pitcher of the Year award. Under the guidance of Bowman, the pitching staff finished eighth in the nation for ERA (1.79) while Alexander ranked 17^th in the nation for strikeouts per seven innings (9.9) and Humphrey was tabbed 10^th (10.5)

In 2020, Bowman helped the Dukes to a record of 13-6 overall in the shortened season due to COVID-19. Prior to the conclusion of the season, she coached Odicci Alexander to two wins over top-25 programs at the SPEC Invitational. Alexander recorded a season-high of 12 strikeouts against Missouri and earned VaSID All-State Second Team honors.

In 2019, Bowman helped the Dukes to a 51-10 overall record, 20-1 in CAA play, and advance to the program's second NCAA Super Regional appearance. She guided Odicci Alexander to her second straight year as CAA Player of the Year and All-CAA first team. Bowman helped Megan Good achieve CAA Pitcher of the Year and All-CAA first team honors, as well as Payton Buresch to second honors. Alexander and Good both received NFCA All-American honors with the direction of Bowman. Good was selected a Top-10 Finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year with the help of Bowman.

In her first season in Harrisonburg, Bowman helped the Dukes to a 43-14 overall record, including 19-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play. She instructed both the CAA Player of the Year (Odicci Alexander) and the CAA Rookie of the Year (Payton Buresch) in the circle. Buresch was also named VaSID Rookie of the Year and named a Top-25 finalist for NFCA's Freshman of the Year under Bowman's direction.

Bowman came to JMU after spending a year at Jacksonville University as a graduate assistant manager, before being promoted to assistant coach in the summer of 2017. The former Longwood University standout took over the pitching coach duties for the Dolphins after her promotion to assistant coach.

While at Longwood, Bowman helped the Lancers to a pair of Big South Championship titles and two NCAA Regional appearances in 2013 and 2015. Her stellar pitching career included 61 games won, and was highlighted by a 21-win season as a sophomore. She was a two-time Big South Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player (2013, 2015) and left Longwood fourth on the program’s all-time wins list and ranking in the top five in career strikeouts with 327.

Bowman graduated in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and worked as a family services specialist with the Bedford Department of Social Services. She also served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Randolph College softball team in her first year after graduation. At Randolph, she focused on creating pitching workouts for the pitching staff. She earned a Master of Science in Leadership and Learning in 2018 from Jacksonville University.